Free Seducing the Baker (At First Sight) by Janet Lane-Walters Page A

Charlene’s lips. “Gonna suck up to your soon-to-be rich friend? Lauren knows how to play the game. So do I. Just you wait and see.”
    Grace strode to the door. Mrs. Paton followed. “It’s not right you’re running off. Since you came back you always cooked Sunday dinner. Do you envy Charlene for snagging a rich man? I’m glad she finally admitted that Grayson boy gave her Robby.”
    Grace ran down the walk to the van. Before Charlene or her mother arrived she pulled away from the curb. Once she’d driven several blocks she pulled over. Rage shook her body. Doubts slithered into her thoughts. Had Jules hasty departure meant he had gone to Charlene?
    She thought back to the time they’d all been at the group homes. Jules had avoided Charlene. He said he’d never had sex without using a condom. And Charlene had been a compulsive liar.
    Grace made a decision. She had to warn Jules but she had no way to reach him. Tony would know.
    She pulled away from the curb and drove. After reaching her friends’ large house she parked in the circular driveway. With the box of cupcakes in hand she hurried up the walk.
    Lauren opened the door. “You’re early.”
    “I know. Something came up. I need to talk to Tony and he needs to call Jules.”
    “What did he do to you?”
    Grace felt her face heat. “It’s not about me.”
    Lauren took the box. Grace hung her coat in the hall closet and followed her friend. “Where’s Jamie?”
    “In the family room with the sitter.” Lauren paused. “Something happened. Jules crept out during the night. Left a note.”
    Grace shrugged. More than he’d left for her. “I have no idea why he bolted but there is something he needs to know. And I have a contract I want Tony to look over.”
    “About what?”
    “For a feature in Good Eatin’ and something Charlene Paton plans.”
    “The witch.”
    Grace laughed. “Spell that with a b and you’ve named her perfectly. Her scheme upset me so much I didn’t stay to finish preparing dinner. Mrs. Paton turned nasty.”
    “Why you go there every Sunday makes me question your sanity. She uses you.”
    “I know.” Grace sighed. “Learned that today. I’ll stop going but I feel sorry for the girls.”
    “So do I but I’m glad you’ve finally seen what users the whole family is.” Lauren paused in the doorway of Tony’s office.
    He looked up. “Time for the tasting?”
    “Not yet,” Lauren said. “She needs your advice.” She carried the box away. “I’ll get things ready.”
    “Do not open the box until I’m there,” Grace said. “I know the order.” She walked to Tony’s desk and dropped the envelope. “Look at the contract first. Then…well…Jules has a problem.”
    “Sit.” Tony waved to a chair. He slid the pages from the envelope. He studied each page. “Do you have any questions?”
    “Just a few. Do you think I’m moving too fast?”
    “You aren’t. If you need a stake just ask. Either as a loan or an investment. Think about doing a cookbook featuring some of your recipes and decorating tips.” He handed her a pen. “Sign and I’ll send it to Jules by messenger tomorrow.”
    Grace signed her name in the places he indicated. She drew a deep breath. “Here’s hoping this is the right thing.”
    Tony slid the papers into a courier envelope. “What did Jules do?”
    Grace settled back in the chair. “It’s more about what he hasn’t done. Yesterday Charlene Paton ran into him at the bakery. She left in a rush. Though she pretended not to know him I think she rushed to some lawyer named Gumble. She’s claiming Jules is the father of her son.”
    “No way,” Tony said.
    Grace nodded. “Charlene lied. Jules never had sex without protection.”
    Tony arched a brow. “I won’t ask how you know that.”
    “Charlene said her attorney is serving Jules with papers for back child support and she believes she can force him to marry her.”
    “How can she prove that?”
    Grace leaned forward. “The